I don't have many rules for the snowglobes, other than they are bought in the location they exist. No eBay. Ah, and if its in a Goodwill, then its ok, as that's saving the snowglobe from the trash. I buy a lot but friends buy me just as many, like donating a Van Gogh to the Met.
So when my friend Patrick went to Dubai to work the film fest there, it was a no-brainer to want to bring back a snowglobe from a place that has no snow. So he picked up this beautifully handpainted gem.
Alas, airports hate art. Don't let the art on the walls there fool you. The rules in the security line stop any liquid over 3 oz. Makes sense. However, even the tiniest globe is stopped from passing. Why? Its less than 3 oz. but security doesn't let you take it through, and doesn't have a reason to give you. (Hint: if the airport sells snowglobes -before- the security line, you should wait until after to buy one.)
This is where Patrick comes in. The airport not only tells him that he must put it in his checked luggage, where it could break even with fragile care, but as he is arguing the finer points of it being less than the liquid limit, they throw it in the trash can.
If there is a hero in the snowglobe world, it is Patrick. Not only did he somehow avoid being arrested (a possibility presented to him) but he went into the trash can and saved the globe. He put it in his backpack wrapped in something, I have to ask him again what, then checked the bag, and went back through security. This is the James Bond of snowglobes.
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